Interchangeable electric light fixture hanger and socket



V. V. VEYSEY ET AL Filed March 27, 1935 y INTBRCHAlGEABLE-ELECTRIC LIGHTFIXTURE HANGER AND SOCKET 9,1%/ ATTORNEYS INVENTORS Vm 'U Patented Feb.25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERCHANGEABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTFIXTURE HANGER AND SOCKET Vernon V. Veysey and Harvey R. Andersen,Neenah, Wis.

This invention relates combination electrical lighting xtures.

to improvements in outlets and hangers for It is the primary object ofthe invention to provide a novel and improved organization of electricaloutlet and hanger so designed as to facilitate the mounting anddismounting of electrical fixtures, andpreferably so contrived that theparts which serve to provide the current path from the house wiring tothe fixture also serve as a fixture mounting means, such parts havingmechanism insulated to facilitate the manipulation of the parts fortheir engagement and disengagement in the mounting and dismounting ofthe fixture.

It is a further object of the invention to promote safety by protectingelectricians, plasterers and painters, and other persons having need tomanipulate electric fixtures from contact with bare wires; and toeliminate all need for the connection and manipulation of ordinary wiresin l the hanging and removal of fixtures.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingwherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a device embodying theinvention showing a detachable `plug portion partially inserted into themounting .socket adapted to receive it.

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section similar to Figure 1 showing4the plug portion anchored within the mounting socket, the electricalconnection between the parts being established by the mounting means.

Figure 3 is a detail view of a portion of the mounting socket intransverse section.

Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of the removal plug portion of thedevice.

Figure 5 is a view in section of a dummy plug which may be used to closethe socket where the outlet is intended to be plastered over temporari-Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutthev several views.

The usual outlet or junction box 6 is secured to the support 1 in theusual manner. I have shown lt tobe connected with the conventional BXcableor sheath 8 through which the current supply wires 9 and I0 are ledto the interior of box 6.

Fittings Il and I2, such as are used in the mounting of an ordinaryreceptacle in an outlet box, are employed to support in box 6 a specialreceptacle I5 which is preferably made of porcelain or some othersuitable insulating material. The receptacle has a central opening at I6which tapers from a large cross section to a small cross section towardthe open side of the box 6.

Applied to the converging opposite faces of vopening I6 are contactplates Il and I8 to which the wires 9 and I0 are connected by means ofterminal screws I9 and 20 respectively. 'I'he cover 2l screwed tofittings II and I2 is applied to the lath 22 and plaster 23 to close thefront of the box 6 except for an aperture at 24 in registry with theopening I6 of the receptacle.

The chain shown at 25 in Fig. 2 may be taken 5 to represent anyconventional fixture. As is usual,

' where a chain-supported fixture is used, the chain engages with thehook portion 26 of a special nut 21. In accordance with the presentinvention, the nut is suspended upon the lower end of 10 a rod 28 whichis swiveled in a block of insulating material shown at 29, and is screwthreaded at its upper end for interaction with a wedge 30, likewiseformed of. insulating material.

Projecting upwardly from the insulating block 15 29 are the combinedsupports and contacts 35, preferably provided at their upper ends bythickened pad portions 36 made by folding the contact plates uponthemselves and lling with solder or the like the eye thus formed. Whenthe con- 20 tact and supporting elements 35 are parallel to each otheras shown in Fig. l, they are readily insertable into and removable fromthe opening I6 at the receptacle I5. A rib at 31 on the block 29registers with a groove at 38 and receptacle to 25 ensure, wheredesired, that the contact elements 35 will register with the propercontact plates Il and I8, so that the polarity of the current receivedby the plates may be known.

If the plug assembly is fully `inserted in the 30 receptacle as shown inFig. 2, and the rod 28 is turned to screw the wedge 30 downwardlybetween the pad elements 36 at the upper end of the contact andsupporting springs or members 35, the said contact and supporting spring35 members will be expanded in the tapered opening I6 as shown in Fig. 2and thereby will be anchored securely against withdrawal within thestrength of the material used. Any desired object may now be suspendedupon the rod 28, 40 which is adequately able to support any conventionalxture connected thereto by means of the hook at 26. The fixture wires 38and 38 are connected by means of terminal screws 40 with the combinedcontact and supporting members 45 35 These wires are preferably confinedwithin a tubular housing 4| and a conventional finishing bell 42. Awasher at 43, duly notched to pass the wires 38 and 39, is engaged bythe nut 21 50 to support the tubular housing 4I and the bell 42.

In case it is desired to conceal the xture outlet beneath plaster, as issometimes the case, the opening I6 in the receptacle 4may be temporarilyclosed by means of a plate 45 applied to 55 the bottom of the receptacleand there firmly held by means of dummy contacts 35 carried byinsulating block 46 and expanded by means of a wedge 30 operated byascrew headed rod 28'.

It will be understood-that the device herein 60 speciiically describedis but one of many forms which the inventionmaymtake to support any kindof an electrical fixture which requires both electrical connection andmechanical support. The receptacle and plug fitting herewith disclosedmay also be used wherever it is desired to continue an electricalcircuit through means which provides a mechanical as well as anelectrical connection.

As applied to electric lighting fixtures, the apparatus enables the mostinexperienced operator to mount or dismount an electrical fixture withno danger to himself. Thus it is not only of value to electricians inthe ordinary installation of such fixtures, but is also of value toplasterers, painters and others who may have occasion to remove alighting fixture to facilitate their work. Also, the invention enablesthe ordinary householder to interchange his electrical fixtures withoutasking for the services of an electrician.

We claim:

1. A combined fixture hanger and outletrreceptacle comprising thecombination with a pair of contacts and an apertured receptacleproviding insulation and mounting for said contacts, and aiording accessthereto, of a xture support comprising -insulating means and conductorsmounted thereon and individually engageable with the respective contactsof the receptacle and adapted for simultaneous manipulation formechanical connection with the respective contacts to receive supportand also to receive electrical energy therefrom, and means formechanically engaging said conductors positively with the respectivecontacts.

2. The combination with a pair of contacts and a recessed receptacleproviding insulation and comprising a supporting part and affordingaccess to said contact, of a'plug device comprising a supported part andproviding a pair of laterally movable prongs complementary totherespective contacts, and mechanical and positive means for moving saidprongs laterally for the mechanical inter-engagement of said prongs withsaid contacts toprovide a releasable mechanical and electricalconnection therebetween.

3. The combination with a receptacle provided with spaced contacts, of afitting provided with prongs complementary to the contacts, and meansholding said prongs at points spaced diiierently from the spacing of thecontacts, together with manually operable means for the mechanicalmanipulation of said prongs with respect to each other and said contactsin a direction to engage said prongs mechanically and electrically withthe respective contacts, whereby to secure said itting to saidreceptacle in electrically operative relation.

4. The combination with a receptacle member and a tting member arrangedfor mechanical and electrical connection, of spaced contacts carried bythe respective members, means providing suitable insulation for thecontacts, and mechanically operable positive means for moving aplurality of contacts simultaneously in a lateral direction for engagingthe contacts of one of said members with the contacts of the other inmechanical and electrical connection. y

5. The combination with a receptacle having an internal recess leadingto a reduced opening, of contacts carried by said receptacle atdifferent sides of said opening, a tting including prongs receivablethrough said opening, and means for aosibii mechanically expanding saidprongs positively into engagement with said contacts for mechanical andelectrical connection therewith, whereby said prongs are secured in saidreceptacle against the possibility of withdrawal save by manipulation ofsaid means. t

6. The combination with an apertured receptacle having an internalrecess with walls converging toward the aperture, mutually insulatedcontacts disposed on different walls, a tting comprising a fixturesupport and provided'v with mutually insulated contact prongs receivablethrough said aperture, positively acting means for mechanicallyexpanding said prongs to receive mechanical support from said walls,said prongs having portions engageable with said contacts when soexpanded.

7. The combination with a pair of outwardly converging contacts and areceptacle providing insulated support therefor, of a fixture carryingfitting provided with mutually insulated prongs and a wedge disposedbetween said prongs and provided with means for its adjustment in adirection to expand said prongs into mechanical and electricalconnection with said contacts.

8. The combination with an outlet tting comprising an apertureddielectric block, the aperture being outwardly tapered to a reducedcross section, of contacts carried by opposing convergingportions ofsaid block adjacent the aperture therein, a iitting comprisinginsulating means, and spaced prongs carried thereby and receivable intothe aperture of said block, an adjusting rod movable in said means, anda wedge connected with said rod for manipulation thereby and disposedbetween said prongs, said wedge being adapted to expand said prongs intomechanical and electrical connection with said contacts.

9. An outlet receptacle comprising a support provided with a plugreceiving aperture having an inlet, in combination with solidly mountedand relatively non-yielding supporting and electrical contactsconverging toward each other toward said inlet and provided withmutually insulated mounting upon said support at opposite sides of saidaperture.

10. In a device of the character described, a plug iitting comprising apair of conducting prongs having movable free end portions, of means l'providing insulated support for said prongs, and a manually operableactuator extending through said means for the manipulation of the freeend portions of said prongs and including mechanism acting positively onthe free end portions of the prongs.

11. In a device of the character described, a plug tting comprising adielectric block, a pair of iiexible prongs connected to said block andhaving free end portions projecting therefrom, wedge means disposedbetween said prong end portions, and an actuating rod threaded to saidwedge means and swiveled in said block.

12. In a device of the character described, a plug fitting comprising adielectric block, a pair of ilexible prongs connected to said block andhaving free end portions projecting therefrom, wedge means disposedbetween said prong end portions, and an actuating rod threaded tosaidwedge means and swiveled in said block, together with a iixturesupport mechanically connected with said block, said prongs havingelectrical terminal means.

VERNON V. VEYSEY. HARVEY R. ANDERSEN.

